Adding a little lace can give a design an instant lift. Whether seeking a style that’s a little edgy, sweet or a kickback to a couple decades ago – lace can make it happen. No-sew projects with doilies, remnants or upcycled materials can turn a plain item into an original statement piece, for a fraction of the price of a store bought item. Too tight, too short or too boring shirts can be made bigger and more fashionable by adding a lace extender. Sew a lace panel into the side seam or around the bottom edge of a T-shirt or… read more

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), almost 30 million tons of cardboard was generated from businesses in the U.S. in 2012. Of this amount, 91% was recycled that same year. Paper Recycles reported that there was a drop in the amount of recycled corrugated cardboard in 2013, seeing only 88.5% recovered in the U.S. last year. The EPA stated that corrugated cardboard is among the easiest material to recycle. Steve Wintercroft of Wintercroft Masks has come up with a fun way to reuse cardboard. He has designed a collection of do it yourself, printable masks that are intended… read more

Children are notorious for growing out of their clothes in record speed. And their clothing is notorious for being fairly pricey for items that will not be worn very long. Still quality hand-me-downs are always great to receive, but upcycling other items into new digs is another way to make clothes last longer. Adults or older siblings who have outgrown their clothes are the perfect go-to for fabric. Check out this DIY idea to turn old shirts or other clothes into a dress. The tutorial has great pictures and patterns, and any larger sized shirt could work. This pattern turns and… read more

Whether a reflective statement piece or an artistic addition to a wardrobe, jewelry and the art of crafting it are treasured by many. Though it can be representative of many things, the following designers have completely reworked what jewelry can do. Their creations are totally unexpected and out of the box, and one is even a little avant-garde with a touch of disturbing. Although many may not necessarily be wishing to wear these pieces, they are definitely worth visiting just for their sheer shock factor that normally isn’t included in the jewelry box. Jewelry designer Ewa Śliwińska developed The Living Points Structure, a project… read more

Zippers have been around for over 160 years. The idea was first developed by Elias Howe who initially created the zipper in 1851. Howe failed to properly market his design and in 1893 a mechanical engineer, Whitcomb L. Judson, received credit for inventing the zipper. In 1913, the zipper received an update by an electrical engineer named Gideon Sundback, and this revision went on to evolve into the zipper that is more widely used today. Though zippers are mostly thought of in regard to the fashion industry, an installation called Wink Space has turned them into an unbelievable feast for the eyes. Using… read more

The buzz swirling around the field of the smart clothing is constant as new technologies are developed, advanced and applied. A project called The Next Black is a film created and produced by AEG, a home appliance company, that is focused on how to make clothing manufacturing more ecological. Have a peek at the film: Several sustainably minded designers are featured in the video. Biocouture Ltd. is an innovative development in the market that uses an organic outlook in combination with a scientific approach to clothing. An exciting facet in garment production called biodesign integrates ways that allow types of grow your own clothing with natural processes…. read more

Clothes. A necessity, but most of us don’t really think about where they come from. The story behind the making of your clothes is often something mysterious, something that happens behind the scenes. Clothing is not produced without a force of lives behind the fashion industry, although their voices more often than not go unheard. This awareness has been circulating through movies, articles and snapshots of the people around the world who make clothing. One eye-opening short film that surfaced last year called Handprint displays garment laborers and their literal hands-on association to clothing. The film aims to show the significance… read more

There are tons of ideas for using up fabric remnants. If you have been saving up extra fabric, break it out and put it to use by making something practical, fashionable or educational. This floral bag tutorial incorporates a spring inspired print that could be changed out with the seasons, or for any other reason, with a découpage technique. This application could be used for backpacks and other bags, and even applied to luggage to make it stand out at pick-up. To color or put a print or pattern onto plain fabric, try a traditional shibori method for dying. Cotton blends work best for this, and… read more

Food packaging is sometimes an evil necessity. It is certainly helpful in keeping food and beverage items safe while traveling and free from contaminants until purchased. However, cardboard and plastic packaging in particular are responsible for tons of waste each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2008 in the U.S. alone there were 1,170 thousand tons of bags and sacks generated, with only 440 thousand tons of this recovered in recycling efforts. Milk cartons accounted for 490 thousand tons of packaging waste, with none recaptured. The total production numbers from this year for paper and paperboard containers… read more

Handmade floral headbands made with fresh or crafted flowers are a nod to spring and reawakening. These require few materials and can be made using items from around the house and flowers or other natural items from outdoors. Also, other choices for decorative materials, like recycled papers or fabrics can be used to make them. The crowns can be made in any size and can be tailored for children and adults. They also make great gifts, and little hands can learn how to craft them too. They make sweet gifts for birthdays, Mother’s Day and other special events. If making… read more